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All right. Today is September 27th, 2024. Yes, sir. We are at Art. All night. Could you tell me your name? My name is Tyrone Neal.

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Tyrone, uh, could you tell me a little bit about your relationship to Mount Pleasant? Well, I moved in this area about March, and ever since I moved to the area, people have been fairly nice. You know, even when I come to the library to get, uh, documents printed out. You know, I've lost documents in the past that I had, like, downloaded on my phone and stuff like that. So they've been helping me out a lot with establishing, first of all, getting a library card and also printing out any documents I may need off my phone or off of my email address. Like anything, anything I want from important documents. Just plain old pictures of my family. Oh that's terrific. Now, have you are you from Washington, D.C. or? I born and raised Washingtonians since 1982.

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1982. All right. And have you spent time up in Mount Pleasant before moving here? Not really. I mean, I passed through a lot, but I've been all over D.C.. I've lived, like, in every district in D.C.. Northwest. Southwest. Southeast. Southwest. Okay. And tell me about how, from your experience, how has the city kind of changed and what was it city like as growing up, and how has it changed over time? Well, it's a good change. You know, I feel as though we have some good people in the office right now that's trying to do some things for the community, you know. And, um, you know, but, you know, sometimes you just got to take the good with the bad. You know, everything is not going to be 100% perfect 100% of the time. So with that being said it, you just got to keep an open mind and just, you know, just got to realize that you got to do what you, you have to do to make you a better person for the city.

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I hear that, okay. And so tell me about some of the good. Well, some of the good things. First of all, like with the function they have in here is the Art All Night. You know, it's a good function for the kids. The kids are all playing, even though it's kind of gloomy out. They still have face painting bubbles, coloring books, stickers, painting, you know, anything you like. Making cards for people in the hospital. It's a lot of good things going on here tonight. That's terrific. And the bad? Well, the bad things, you know, always the bad thing is when it's crime. But I feel as though, you know, if you, uh, if you do what you're supposed to do and you're a good person and don't go looking for trouble, trouble won't find you.

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I hear you. Okay. And so you moved here. You said. Remind me one more time. March. March. Okay. And since being here in Mount Pleasant, obviously the library is important. Are there other places that you feel like kind of. You make a home for yourself in Mount Pleasant? Well, I mean, I frequent the library. I like hanging out, uh, at the over at the mall sometimes. And, uh, you know, it's a lot of little street vendors out there trying to make an honest living. They do do good. A lot of good stuff. Making a lot of good food out here. There's tons of good places to eat. So you never can be too choosy or too picky on I'm going to eat it because it's always good food. Up this way.

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Oh that's terrific. And who are some of the people who have been that you've met since you've moved here, that you think are kind of important figures in the neighborhood? Well, first I got to start off with my neighbors, you know, because when I first moved into the building, a lot of people embraced me and a lot, you know, I did. I was new to the area, new to the community, and everybody just been kind of nice showing me around even, because I had to learn this whole area. Even learning from what a grocery store is to the laundromat. So it's a good thing to be informed. I see. And so they helped take you out and- Show me around and showed me the ropes, so to speak.

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And you said some of the vendors you've gotten to know as well to. Some of the vendors I've got, I've gotten to know. You know, I, you know, some of the street vendors out there selling their foods from time to time. I like going out on the weekends and buying food, because I don't really do a lot of cooking on the weekends. So I try to I try to go out and get food on the weekends and sit back, watch a little football or games or whatever, whatever's good on TV. Oh that's terrific. All right. And so you've got, um, uh, are there any things that you see maybe that that could be improved upon in the neighborhood? Well, uh, yeah. Like I'm going to get into a but some things just can't be helped. The crime could be improved, but I feel as though, like I said, if people do their best and try to stay away from it, it won't find you. And the police are - the police and the fire department are doing a good job, but they can only do for so much. We as a people have to do for ourselves and do better for one another and mankind.

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In five years from now, where would you like to see Mount Pleasant as a neighborhood? I'd like to see Mount Pleasant as one of the cornerstones of society, helping the kids, you know, helping the kids out a lot. You know, there's a lot of things going on that are helping the kids with everything from everything from backpacks to hand sanitizers to notebooks and everything. So I seen a lot going in these last few months. I see, I see. And then one last question or are two more questions. But from all the neighborhoods you've lived in in D.C., kind of how does how does Mount Pleasant compare to some of those different neighborhoods you've lived in? Well, there's a lot of it's a lot of nice people. A lot of people are not afraid to speak like speak and speak up, for that matter. A lot of people, you go to certain neighborhoods that people just don't want to speak to, don't want to say hi back, don't want to say hello, don't want to get to know you. A lot of people, every time I come up this way, especially just to the library, people are always so nice, generous, offering up a helping hand. So I really commend that. I think we need more like it.

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All right. My last question. Are there any questions you had you wished I had asked you about the neighborhood? Uh, not not not really. I mean, no, everything seems up to par. Okay. Anything you'd like to leave us with tonight? No. Just take care of yourself and each other.

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Thank you so much. I appreciate your. Time. All right. Thank you.